protective effect for higher vitamin B12 levels against the progression of periventricular white matter lesions, a common feature of cerebral small vessel disease. Progression of the lesions has been associated with cognitive impairment, urinary disturbances and gait abnormalities. Reduced vitamin B12 levels linked to increased progression of white matter lesions Reduced vitamin B12 levels linked to increased progression of white matter lesionsNovember 13 2013. The journal PLOS One published an article on October 14, 2013 which reports the discovery of researchers in the Netherlands of a protective effect for higher vitamin B12 levels against the progression of periventricular white matter lesions, a common feature of cerebral small vessel disease. Progression of the lesions has been associated with cognitive impairment, urinary disturbances and gait abnormalities. The study included 107 men and women diagnosed with a first time lacunar stroke, which results from the occlusion of one of the arteries that provides blood to the brain’s deep structures. Blood samples obtained within three months of the event were assayed for plasma vitamin B12 levels. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain at the beginning of the study and after two years was used to evaluate periventricular and deep white matter lesions. Twenty-nine percent of the participants experienced progression of periventricular white matter lesions and 39.3% had deep white matter lesion progression at the two-year follow-up visit. The researchers observed a 42% greater risk of periventricular white matter lesion progression for every 50 picomole per liter decrease in vitamin B12. Subjects whose B12 levels were considered deficient at less than 150 picomoles per liter had an approximately three times greater risk of periventricular white matter lesion progression in comparison with those whose levels were higher. An association with vitamin B12 levels was not observed for deep white matter lesion progression. Ellen C. van Overbeek and her colleagues suggest several possible protective mechanisms for vitamin B12 including homocysteine reduction, improved blood-brain barrier integrity and other factors. They write that “Our results imply that patients with cerebral small vessel disease could benefit from supplementation of vitamin B12 to prevent further progression of white matter lesions over time.”
Posted on: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 02:23:13 +0000
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